Busy day yesterday. Finally got the hose hooked up in the garage, changed the SC tires, power washed the winter rims and winter floor mats, detailed the interiors on both cars, and washed the outside of mine. It was a good day.

Whoa! This is a bit sudden, isn't it? Someone check me on this, but has Sharon been on the C|D staff prior to this promotion, because I don't recall seeing her by-line anywhere, at least not in the print version.

Whoa! This is a bit sudden, isn't it? Someone check me on this, but has Sharon been on the C|D staff prior to this promotion, because I don't recall seeing her by-line anywhere, at least not in the print version.

"Carty comes from the industry business publication Automotive News, where she headed a team reporting on urban mobility, new technology, and autonomous vehicles."

Sounds like Eddie got a promotion and Hearst is heading in an on-line direction.

He’s held the “brand manager” role concurrently with the EIC role for a couple of months now. I can’t say I didn’t at least have an inkling this might be coming. I just wouldn’t have known about the successor.

Got a "Congratulate Eddie Alterman on his new position" LinkedIn message a couple of months ago and had some back and forth with him. Mentioned I thought his long run as editor-in-chief included being brands manager and he said he was stepping back from day to day editorial responsibilities. That clarified that a change was coming but he couldn't spill the beans about Sharon at that time.

Agree with Josh that Hearst is headed in the online direction as fast as possible. Even though Car and Driver is the largest circulation print car magazine in the world... print media is only contracting. Breaking the historic mold of editors who were dyed in the wool stick-shift car guys with IBM Selectric typewriters and a pack of Camel's is just a sign of the times.

The biggest question mark is whether Ann Arbor will continue to be Car and Driver's home base. That picture of Sharon was taken in the Ann Arbor offices so that's a good sign, but they recently disbanded the Road & Track staff there and re-staffed the magazine at the Hearst mother ship in Manhattan.

The proving grounds they use to test cars and their relationship with the Detroit manufacturers have been part of the magazine's culture for decades. But everything's different now. They're bringing in a young woman to re-orient, expand and modernize today's car culture magazine. Cash flow is king and that will likely be the determining factor in whether they stay or leave Ann Arbor.

Got a "Congratulate Eddie Alterman on his new position" LinkedIn message a couple of months ago and had some back and forth with him. Mentioned I thought his long run as editor-in-chief included being brands manager and he said he was stepping back from day to day editorial responsibilities. That clarified that a change was coming but he couldn't spill the beans about Sharon at that time.

Funny. I saw that “congratulate...” message from LinkedIn as well. I knew he had assumed the brand manager title, but since he was still listed in the masthead as EIC, I didn’t pay much attention. I’ll have to try and reach out.

Agree with Josh that Hearst is headed in the online direction as fast as possible. Even though Car and Driver is the largest circulation print car magazine in the world... print media is only contracting. Breaking the historic mold of editors who were dyed in the wool stick-shift car guys with IBM Selectric typewriters and a pack of Camel's is just a sign of the times.

Unfortunately, this also means that comprehensive and meaningful road tests of cars are on the way out as well. I understand it's a new generation - my kids only know how to add gas and change the stereo in my cars. But, look at the latest "comparo" on the site...it's simply a comparison of the brochures, nothing at all to do with driving impressions. It makes me sad, but it's only a matter of time before the magazine/website gets renamed "Car".

Unfortunately, this also means that comprehensive and meaningful road tests of cars are on the way out as well. I understand it's a new generation - my kids only know how to add gas and change the stereo in my cars. But, look at the latest "comparo" on the site...it's simply a comparison of the brochures, nothing at all to do with driving impressions. It makes me sad, but it's only a matter of time before the magazine/website gets renamed "Car".

Problem is the new kids on the block aren't interested in 0-60 times and skidpad G-loading. Ironically the one woman writing for the magazine was primarily involved with those exhaustive car analysis that have disappeared probably due to cost and indifference. It's realizing our interest level is timing out as the newer larger audience looking for car info doesn't have the interest to process that level of engineering detail. There are other places that still speak our language as this place goes more mass market. Looking forward to seeing what Sharon brings to the party going forward.

As mentioned previously, will be interesting to see how the disbanding of the Road & Track editorial offices in Ann Arbor and recreation in Manhattan will reverberate. Curious to see the first magazine produced in Manhattan.

Problem is the new kids on the block aren't interested in 0-60 times and skidpad G-loading. Ironically the one woman writing for the magazine was primarily involved with those exhaustive car analysis that have disappeared probably due to cost and indifference. It's realizing our interest level is timing out as the newer larger audience looking for car info doesn't have the interest to process that level of engineering detail. There are other places that still speak our language as this place goes more mass market. Looking forward to seeing what Sharon brings to the party going forward.

Agreed. I won’t be throwing the baby out with the bath water just yet. I’d rather see what shakes out before I pass judgement.

I know quite a few American attorneys and they'd find this the opposite of funny as it's 80 percent of their day. Kind of like 911 operators fielding complaints from people who didn't get enough french fries when they ordered a "Large" or enough cups of free dipping sauce...

There is a secret floor (6th) that’s not accessible by the 2-15 elevator banks, it’s only accessible from our elevator 16-28. We know he’s here because there is always massive security (think MIB) presence at the lobby and they always block one elevator.

We did ask a person who got on from the 6th floor what company she works in and she said it’s some insurance company. It’s probably one of those fake company at the receptionist area.

We don’t work in the same city as the PM so we are always curious why he has an office or whatever it is here.

Sorry if my posts have seemed even more disjointed and combative that usual, but starting last Sunday morning the kids started throwing up and last night was the first vomit free night we had since last Sunday. To make matters worse I got sick and so did the wife and one of the boys wound up with a bacterial infection on top of all of it. So last night was the first night I got more than 3 hours of sleep, and we don’t have a vomit smell in the house and we don’t have to do three or four loads of laundry. It felt in some ways like being in Iraq again. But everyone is on the mend now and we have been able to get some rest so it’s all good.

I don't know how long this has been a thing because when I'm behind the wheel of a Mustang I'm usually concentrating on driving it like, well, a Mustang. But when stuck in a convoy of them to restock the secret test facility whilst obeying laws and such, I noticed this:

Ford, I have so many questions.

But primarily, WHAT OTHER KIND OF SPEED DO YOU EXPECT YOUR CARS TO ENCOUNTER?!?

[I mean, maybe it becomes an airspeed indicator, but I'm not driving it off a cliff to find out...]